The series of presentations dedicated to the educational offer of the University of Parma Master’s Programmes in Healthcare for the 2026/2027 Academic Year continues, with applications already open. The programme we are presenting is the First-Level Master’s Programme in Palliative Care and Pain Management for Healthcare Professionals, dedicated to developing advanced competencies in caring for people affected by serious or incurable illnesses, pain management, and supporting individuals and their families throughout the different stages of illness. In a health and social care context characterised by increasingly complex care needs, palliative care plays a fundamental role in ensuring quality of life, relief from suffering, and person-centred care. Palliative care requires a holistic approach capable of recognising and addressing not only physical symptoms but also the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families through personalised, multidisciplinary care.
The Master’s Programme aims to prepare professionals, with particular attention to the role of the palliative care nurse, who are capable of working in complex care situations and contributing to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of appropriate interventions. The educational programme provides opportunities to develop advanced competencies in the assessment, planning, and management of care needs, with the aim of reducing suffering, improving quality of life, and preserving, wherever possible, individuals’ functional abilities and autonomy. Particular emphasis is placed on pain assessment and management, addressed through the acquisition of clinical knowledge and methodological tools to identify symptoms, monitor their progression, and contribute to the development of appropriate therapeutic and care interventions. The Master’s Programme also explores the safe management of medications, therapies, and medical devices, promoting professional practice based on the best available scientific evidence. A central element of the programme is the development of communication and interpersonal competencies, which are essential for establishing effective care relationships with patients, their families, and the multidisciplinary team. Attention is also focused on providing support during the advanced and terminal stages of illness, offering assistance during end-of-life care and bereavement, and addressing ethical issues related to chronic illness, incurability, and care decisions. From this perspective, respect for individuals’ values, beliefs, wishes, and rights represents a fundamental principle of professional practice. The Master’s Programme also explores the importance of continuity of care and integration across different care settings, preparing professionals to work in primary care services, hospices, hospitals, and home care settings. Interprofessional collaboration and coordination between services are essential to ensuring appropriate care pathways that respond to the evolving needs of individuals and their families.
The educational programme combines interactive theoretical lessons, workshops, seminars, and group work, alongside clinical placements at facilities affiliated with the University of Parma. Practical experiences take place in residential, hospital-based, and home-based palliative care services, as well as pain management services, providing students with opportunities to consolidate their acquired competencies and gain experience in different clinical care situations.
The Master’s Programme has a duration of one year, awards 60 ECTS credits, and offers 35 places. Classes are delivered online in synchronous mode, two days a week on alternate weeks, with the exception of July and August. Applications for the 2026/2027 Academic Year are already open and may be submitted until 12:00 p.m. on 29 January 2027.